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Chapter Eight: Lamentation for the Hollow Memory.
Immersing his entire body into the corridor of darkness, Riku quickly exited out on the other end and stepped his feet on the antiquated pavement of Constantinople's old Roman hippodrome. The decimated landscape, a stark reminder of what remained of the old Byzantine city prior to the Ottoman Turk conquest by previous ruler Mehmed the Conquerer a generation ago, stretched on endlessly for miles and miles. In comparison to the bleak atmosphere on the ruins, the night sky appeared to be equal in its dreariness. No clouds nor celestial objects aside from the Moon, the emptiness made the location ideal for the man to reflect on things.
Gathering the darkness lodged in his heart, Riku raised his left hand up high in the air. I hope that this time around, that with our darkness fueling me this time around that just maybe, I'll be able to remember it. A strong wind passed by him, causing his silver strands of hair to sway only to return back to place, covering those glowing yellow eyes of his once more. His muscular body levitated at the center, right between the hippodrome's twin obelisks and as he floated up, the boy pressed his free hand on his chest and felt his heartbeat. Yes...I feel it there... His dark powers, channeling through his body towards his fingertips, collected itself to a high enough concentration that a purple orb materialized on the palm of his hand. It grows...in me...give me my memories.
The darkness emitted from Riku's presence was at an optimal level, so much so that the Heartless summoned themselves and began foraging around close by. From the palm of his left hand, wide rays of everlasting darkness surrounded the man and going through him, circulating like a liquid channel. Darkness, that force that he once abhored back at Castle Oblivion, was now embraced with open arms and its strong presence primed in his fingertips, ready to unleash on himself and to the hopes of the exiled samurai, he hoped that his memories would return.
With the darkness in me, I'll find a way to remember who mattered the most. thought Riku as he moved his right hand from the spot on his chest and extended it out. The purplish black rays, using his arm to channel themselves around, headed towards his hand's fingertips and from there, appeared the silhouette of the Phantom of the Opera. A second or two passed when the treble clef-shaped sword materialized; holding it in his hands, Riku eyed the key-chain. Could I regain them with this? I'm not sure if it's possible but I wonder...if the same thing that Sora did could work for me?
Static.
"Sora, hold on! You don't know what you're doing! You'll fall to Ansem's plan and become his slave!"
The cries of his best friend turned traitor did nothing to stop the spiky brunet boy in the kimono from doing what he thought was best to stop the darkness. After grabbing his Kingdom Key, Sora turned his head and looked at his worried friend; no verbal response was given. A contrast from the normal, although not surprising considering the circumstances; the fate of Kairi, his best friend who's fallen to darkness, Japan and perhaps the entire world beyond. Only a smile and an assuring nod in its place.
Aiming the sword's sharp edge at himself and watching his best friend Riku running towards him, Sora knew that the time was right. Then and there, the brunet stabbed himself, causing light to sparkle as two hearts, Kairi's and his escaped him and disappeared with the boy following along as well.
Coding.
To Riku, stabbing oneself with the Keyblade seemed like the most idiotic, stupidest thing to do at the time considering that outside the castle balcony where they fought, the entire world was collapsing. Suicidal as well but then again to Riku who's desperation to retrieve his memories of her clouded his judgement, it didn't sound suicidal or idiotic but ingenious. Prior to making a move, he thought. Stabbing his chest caused not only for Kairi's heart to be free but his own to escape. he paused briefly to raise the sword he carried. This was created from my last memory; stabbing myself with it would free the other memories of her.
His never changing mind made up, he had both hands on Phantom's hilt and pointed the sword upwards and then in a backwards movement, having the treble clef's sharp teeth aimed at his chest. Nothing could persuade the man to not stab his own heart, even if it resulted in him losing it to the darkness and becoming a Heartless. At this point in this cruel gamble called life, nothing mattered to him anymore if such a fate came to him. It would be more merciful than continuing to live a life without remembering her and being haunted by the still vivid memory of murdering Kairi and Sora behind their backs.
Clank.
Phantom of the Opera made contact with his body, ripping through the coat's leather fabric and the boy's skin causing liquid darkness to splurge out the wound being made. But just as he dredged his sword deep enough to see his own heart, its emptiness shown by the blackness in the bright heart-shaped outline, Riku offered a half-hearted grin as he collasped, realizing what was happening or it seemed to be.
Ugh... uttered Riku, moaning in pain as he pressed his hands over the self-inflicted wound.
Losing consciousness, everything went black.
Fin.
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